Bounty is Back

We were excited to have Bounty back at the shipyard this September and October.  She has been here for about four weeks getting minor repairs.  BBHS built a new bottom on the boat around 8-10 years ago, which was a major refit.  Five years ago, another major refit replaced all the topsides, from the waterline-up.

This visit Bounty had some bottom work and caulking to do, topside planking and new spars to build.  Refitting new fuel tanks, water tanks and some minor systems work, also needed to be done.

The  original HMS Bounty, which in April, 1789, dealt with a mutiny, which ultimately led to the ship’s sinking near the Pitcairn Islands in the South Pacific. This replica of the HMS Bounty was built in the early 1960s in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and has had a 50-year movie career.  In addition to “Mutiny on the Bounty,” it has also been featured in 1989’s “Treasure Island,” 2006’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and 2007’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.

More pics can be seen on the HMS Bounty facebook page.

Launching the Bounty

Our shipwrights spent more than a year rebuilding this famous ship from the waterline up. During this period the working crew grew from 18 to 49. This 412 ton vessel would not be with us today had it not been for Marlon Brando's sit-down strike. When he learned it was to be burned in the final reel of Mutiny on the Bounty, he refused to act in another scene until MGM created a scaled down version of Bounty for the burn scene.
The Bounty’s current protector is Bob Hansen. When he first brought her to us in 2001, Bounty had been leaking upwards to 30,000 gallons of water an hour at her pier. Our job was to rework the hull from the waterline down. During this recent visit to the shipyard, the scope of work included: Fastenings; 7,000 trunnels (locus wood dowels)
Keel: 54,000 lbs lead
Planking; 35,000 board ft of oak and Douglas fir
Deck: 3,500 board ft Douglas fir
Framing; :30,000 board ft of oak
We wish the Bounty and her crew fair winds and following seas.
A highly pleased owner will now take her on a recreation of her original voyage, starting in England and ending up in Pitcairn Island.
Watch the launching of the Bounty video.
and
Follow the Bounty's adventures

Enhancements to Marine Railway Systems

The Boothbay Harbor Shipyard had its' birth in 1869 as a marine railway. Since that time, we have launched a number of four masted schooners. During WW II we built 19 large wooden minesweepers and during the Korean Conflict another 18. Today the yard operates with two marine railways-one rated for 700 tons and the other 150.
During the last two and a half years the large rail has been quite busy with vessels like the 178' Barkentine Gazela of Philadelphia, the schooner Roseway, Grand Banks Schooner Sherman Zwicker and the tall ship Bounty. This yard is one of the last of the large marine railways left in the North East.